Compliance Labeling of
Reflective Material for Trailer Conspicuity
Reinstatement with change of a previously approved collection
No
Regular
10/19/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
66,333,333
0
1
0
4,000
0
This information collection is
mandatory under 49 CFR 571.108 for manufacturers of retroreflective
sheeting. This collection involves disclosure by requiring
manufacturers of retroreflective sheeting to permanently mark the
letters “DOT-C2”, DOT-C3”, or “DOT-C4” at least 3mm high at regular
intervals on retroreflective sheeting material having adequate
performance for certifications and identification purposes. This is
an as-needed collection that manufacturers comply with labeling
retroreflective sheeting as being compliant with NHTSA’s
performance requirements. Manufacturers of trailers and truck
tractors that are required to apply retroreflective sheeting to
their vehicles use the information on the label as an assurance
that the sheeting complies with the standard, and the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) uses the information to
ensure compliance with in-service requirements for regulated
vehicle operators. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS)
No. 108, “Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment”
specifies requirements for vehicle lighting for the purposes of
reducing crashes and the injuries and deaths resulting from crashes
by providing adequate roadway illumination, improved vehicle
conspicuity, and appropriate information transmission through
signal lamps, in both day, night, and other conditions of reduced
visibility. To provide effective trailer conspicuity, FMVSS No. 108
requires the permanent marking of the letters “DOT-C2”, DOT-C3”, or
“DOT-C4” at least 3 mm high at regular intervals on retroreflective
sheeting material having adequate performance for certifications
and identification purposes. The manufacturers of new truck
tractors and trailers are required to certify that their products
are equipped with retroreflective material complying with the
requirements of the standard. FMCSA enforces this and other
standards through roadside inspections of trucks. There is no
practical field test for the performance requirements, and labeling
is the only objective way of distinguishing trailer conspicuity
grade material from lower performance material. Without labeling,
FMCSA would not be able to enforce the performance requirements of
the standard and the compliance testing of new tractors and
trailers would be complicated. Labeling is also important to small
trailer manufacturers, which might not have the capability to test
the tape and therefore could rely on the certification provided by
the retroreflective sheeting manufacturer to help them certify
compliance. Because wider stripes or material of lower brightness
also can provide the minimum safety performance, the marking system
serves the additional role of identifying the minimum stripe width
required for retroreflective conspicuity of the particular
material. Since the last notice, the estimated number of
respondents, burden hours and costs were revised. The number of
respondents was revised from six respondents to three, based on the
number of identified manufacturers of retroreflective tape. The
total burden hours were revised from one hour to three hours based
on the number of respondents and required reporting tasks. The
labor cost associated with the burden hours was also revised to
$102.57. The total annual cost burden was revised from $1,000 to
$4,000 based on the number of trailers and truck tractors
registered in the United States and updated
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
PRA_SS_PartA_RetroreflectiveTape_reinststatement_030221_V4.docx
Compliance Labeling of Reflective Material for Trailer Conspicuity